Collapsible shading device

Abstract

A collapsible shading device includes a collapsible frame including an upper hub and a lower hub being moved between an unfolded position when the lower hub is moved towards from the upper hub, and a folded position when the lower hub is moved away from the upper hub, an operation system for folding the collapsible frame from the folded position to the unfolded position by means of a downward pulling force, and an interlocker provided at the collapsible frame to releasably lock up the lower hub with the upper hub to retain the collapsible frame at the unfolded position.

1 . A collapsible shading device, comprising:
 a collapsible frame which comprises an upper hub, a lower hub coaxially positioned below said upper hub, a plurality of awning arms radially and pivotally coupling with said upper hub and a plurality of supporting arms radially and pivotally extending from said lower hub to said awning arms respectively, wherein said collapsible frame is adapted to fold between an unfolded position when said lower hub is moved towards from said upper hub, and a folded position when said lower hub is moved away from said upper hub;   a shading element supported by said awning arms to define a shading area under said shading element when said collapsible frame is folded at said unfolded position;   an operation system provided at said collapsible frame for folding said collapsible frame from said folded position to said unfolded position by means of a downward pulling force; and   an interlocker provided at said collapsible frame to releasably lock up said lower hub with said upper hub to retain said collapsible frame at said unfolded position.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible shading device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said interlocker comprises a locker unit provided at said lower hub and a locker shaft downwardly and coaxially extended from said upper hub to align with said locker unit such that when said lower hub is upwardly moved towards said upper hub, said locker shaft is engaged with said locker unit to interlock said lower hub with said upper hub. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible shading device, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said locker unit has a locker slot coaxially formed at said lower hub and a locking actuator which is rotatably coupled at said lower hub and is arranged in such manner that when said locker shaft is slidably inserted into said locker slot, said locking actuator is rotated to lock up said locker shaft at said locker slot. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible shading device, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said interlocker further comprises at least a first engaging member outwardly protruded from an outer circumferential surface of said locker shaft and defining a first engaging surface at said first engaging member, and a second engaging member which is outwardly protruded from an inner circumferential surface of said locking actuator and is arranged when said locker shaft is slidably inserted into said locker slot, said locking actuator is rotated to engage said second engaging member with said first engaging member at said first engaging surface thereof so as to lock up said lower hub with said upper hub. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible shading device, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said first engaging member further has a slanted guiding surface extended from said first engaging surface and arranged in such a manner that when said locker shaft is slidably inserted into said locker slot, said second engaging member is guided to slide at said guiding surface to engage with said first engaging surface of said first engaging member. 
     
     
         6 . The collapsible shading device, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said interlocker further comprises a resilient element supported within said lower hub for applying a rotational force at said locking actuator so as to automatically lock up said locker shaft at said locker slot and to ensure said locking actuator being coupled with said locker shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The collapsible shading device, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said interlocker further comprises a resilient element supported within said lower hub for applying a rotational force at said locking actuator so as to automatically lock up said locker shaft at said locker slot and to ensure said locking actuator being coupled with said locker shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The collapsible shading device, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said locker shaft has a non-circular cross section matching with a non-circular cross sectional opening of said locker slot so as to ensure said locker shaft being alignedly inserted into said locker slot. 
     
     
         9 . The collapsible shading device, as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said locker shaft has a non-circular cross section matching with a non-circular cross sectional opening of said locker slot so as to ensure said locker shaft being alignedly inserted into said locker slot. 
     
     
         10 . The collapsible shading device, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said operation system comprises at least a pulling cable having a fixed end affixed at said lower hub and a pulling end extending to said upper hub and back to said lower hub such that when said pulling end of said pulling cable is downwardly pulled by said downward pulling force, said lower hub is upwardly lifted to said upper hub. 
     
     
         11 . The collapsible shading device, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said operation system comprises at least a pulling cable having a fixed end affixed at said lower hub and a pulling end extending to said upper hub and back to said lower hub such that when said pulling end of said pulling cable is downwardly pulled by said downward pulling force, said lower hub is upwardly lifted to said upper hub. 
     
     
         12 . The collapsible shading device, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said operation system further comprises a pulley assembly rotatably supported at said upper hub and engaged with said pulling cable for transmitting said downward pulling force at said pulling end of said pulling cable to an upward lifting force at said lower hub. 
     
     
         13 . The collapsible shading device, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said operation system further comprises a pulley assembly rotatably supported at said upper hub and engaged with said pulling cable for transmitting said downward pulling force at said pulling end of said pulling cable to an upward lifting force at said lower hub. 
     
     
         14 . The collapsible shading device, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said locker shaft has one or more guiding holes provided at a bottom end thereof for said pulling cable passing between said upper and lower hubs such that said locker shaft not only provides a locking tool to lock up said lower hub with said upper hub but also forms a guiding channel to guide said pulling cable extending between said upper and lower hubs. 
     
     
         15 . The collapsible shading device, as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said locker shaft has one or more guiding holes provided at a bottom end thereof for said pulling cable passing between said upper and lower hubs such that said locker shaft not only provides a locking tool to lock up said lower hub with said upper hub but also forms a guiding channel to guide said pulling cable extending between said upper and lower hubs. 
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a collapsible shading device which comprises a collapsible frame, an operation system, and an interlocker, comprising the steps of:
 (a) applying a downward pulling force through said operation system to upwardly lift an upper hub of said collapsible frame towards a lower hub thereof so as to fold said collapsible frame from a folded position and an unfolded position; and   (b) interlocking said lower hub with said upper hub to retain said collapsible frame at said unfolded position.   
     
     
         17 . The method, as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the step (b) further comprises the steps of:
 (b.1) slidably inserting a locker shaft of said interlocker into a locker slot thereof, wherein said locker shaft is downwardly and coaxially extended from said upper hub to align with said locker slot provided at said lower hub; and   (b.2) rotatably actuating a locking actuator at said lower hub to lock up said locker shaft within said locker slot so as to interlock said lower hub with said upper hub to retain said collapsible frame at said unfolded position.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17  wherein, in the step (b.2), at least a first engaging member outwardly protruded from an outer circumferential surface of said locker shaft and defining a first engaging surface at said first engaging member, and a second engaging member which is outwardly protruded from an inner circumferential surface of said locking actuator and is arranged when said locker shaft is slidably inserted into said locker slot, said locking actuator is rotated to engage said second engaging member with said first engaging member at said first engaging surface thereof so as to lock up said lower hub with said upper hub. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 17  wherein, in the step (b.2), said second engaging member is guided to slide at a slanted guiding surface of said first engaging member to engage with said first engaging surface of said first engaging member. 
     
     
         20 . The method, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein the step (b.2) further comprises a step of applying a rotational force at said locking actuator to automatically lock up said locker shaft at said locker slot and to ensure said locking actuator being coupled with said locker shaft. 
     
     
         21 . The method, as recited in  claim 19 , wherein the step (b.2) further comprises a step of applying a rotational force at said locking actuator to automatically lock up said locker shaft at said locker slot and to ensure said locking actuator being coupled with said locker shaft. 
     
     
         22 . The method, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said locker shaft has a non-circular cross section matching with a non-circular cross sectional opening of said locker slot so as to ensure said locker shaft being alignedly inserted into said locker slot. 
     
     
         23 . The method, as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said locker shaft has a non-circular cross section matching with a non-circular cross sectional opening of said locker slot so as to ensure said locker shaft being alignedly inserted into said locker slot. 
     
     
         24 . The method, as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the step (1) further comprises the steps of
 (1.1) applying said downward pulling force at a pulling cable to upwardly lift said lower hub to said upper hub, wherein said pulling cable has a fixed end affixed at said lower hub and a pulling end extending to said upper hub and back to said lower hub; and   (1.2) providing a pulley assembly at said upper hub to engage with said pulling cable for transmitting said downward pulling force at said pulling end of said pulling cable to an upward lifting force at said lower hub.   
     
     
         25 . The method, as recited in  claim 23 , wherein the step (1) further comprises the steps of
 (1.1) applying said downward pulling force at a pulling cable to upwardly lift said lower hub to said upper hub, wherein said pulling cable has a fixed end affixed at said lower hub and a pulling end extending to said upper hub and back to said lower hub; and   (1.2) providing a pulley assembly at said upper hub to engage with said pulling cable for transmitting said downward pulling force at said pulling end of said pulling cable to an upward lifting force at said lower hub.